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If you have found your way here from ShowMe St. Louis, welcome!!
Please feel free to look through the galleries and head on over to my Etsy.
I love custom orders and would love to help you put together the perfect gift for someone special!
I hope to hear from you soon!
Hi everyone!
I’m furiously sewing, screening, and prepping for Strange Folk Festival. This is my first time participating in this show, but I have made a point of going to it for the past few years. It’s an amazing show that is fun even if you don’t end up purchasing a single thing. (But you WILL be purchasing things, right? Right?)
Only the strong of will and the light of wallet could possibly walk away from this show without falling in love with a “must-have” item. Located in O’Fallon, IL’s community park, there is something for everyone at Strange Folk. I hope that you will come out and see exactly what I mean.
Right. Now… back to the craft room with me!
Just a quick note to let you all (ok, both of you…) know that I’m playing with the appearance of the site. I like this new look, but I still need to sit down and do some real work with it. For now, rest assured that you have, in fact, reached the home of zenbot baby. I am still crafting my little heart out and I hope to have exciting things to share with you soon!
Thanks for sticking around!
Indie Craft Revolution was, unbelievably, more fun than I expected. (And after my experience last year, I expected LOADS of fun!) I was next to Hypercraftive and Riley Construction, and let me tell you – these ladies are both creative and awesome. Please stop by their booths whenever you see them out and about.
Another slice of cuteness is the reason for this post:
100% of the sale of these buttons will go to assist the victims of the MO "Good Friday" tornados.
Melissa of VillaDesign was in Maryland Heights when a tornado went through that area and tore the steeple off the church she was in. In her words:
I was worried going home seeing the destruction around me. Would I even have a home to go back to? What about the neighbors? Thankfully, my area spared. But there were others, people I know, that were not so lucky. Trees fallen on homes or no homes at all. Maryland Heights was hit with an F3 tornado. Bridgeton was hit with an F4 tornado. There was destruction everywhere and many need help.
So what can I do? I decided to make these… Missouri State pin-back buttons. The 2-1/4 inch buttons are $2 each and 1 inch buttons are $1 each. 100% of the Missouri State buttons sales will go to those effected by the storms.
I encourage you to visit her site and make note of her schedule to find out where you can get your own MO pin and support those effected by the storms. In fact, you could pick up some this weekend at Tower Grove Farmers Market where VillaDesign and Zenbot Baby will be sharing a tent! Veggies, yoga, crafts, and helping others! A perfect combination, don’t you think?
Here I am! Come to Oak Knoll Park from 10-5 today and shop handmade!
Find me in the corner o’cute with Riley Coninstruction and Hypercraftive!!
Just a little over a week away is my first show of the year, Indie Craft Revolution. Last year, this was the first show I had ever done. Looking back on my experience last year, I was almost completely clueless and at the same time, quite lucky. I had a successful show and met lots of friendly crafties that were more than willing to answer a newbie’s questions. I’m fortunate enough to call all of them friends today.
This year, as the show approaches, I’ve been mentioning it on Facebook as well as on Twitter some. This year, a newbie crafter started asking me questions about the show, and as someone who was new last year, I was eager to help. I hope that I was able to answer her questions and give her a positive outlook on what the year may hold for her first time in the St. Louis craft community.
Sometimes paying it forward is the very best way of paying it back.
Now – the details!
If you don’t at least consider coming to Indie Craft Revolution at the St. Louis Artist’s Guild on April 30th (from 10am-5pm) and May 1st (from 10am-4pm) – I will officially deem thee “uncool.” A lost sole (yeah, that’s right. I called you a fish.)
There’s something for everyone at ICR and you might walk away with something for free. Oh? I didn’t mention that? Yup. Giveaways and bags 0′ swag if you’re one of the lucky first ones.
So there you go! Your last weekend of April is planned, so you better stop by and say hello or I will come up with more fishy names to call ye!
I’m working my little tail off getting ready. (Ok, fine. It’s not a *little* tail.) I have 4 shows lined up for spring so far, and like I do – They’re in two clusters a month a part from each other. Why do I do this to myself? Oh, I know… because I kinda love it.
This year, I feel a bit more prepared. Last year, when my friend and I started on this journey, we had 3 main products we were selling. The cloth wipes, the burp cloths and the change kit. I’ve expanded some things, held back on others, and learned the ropes by jumping in head-first.
As I head into Indie Craft Revolution this year, I realize how far I’ve come. Last year this time, I was slaving away each night and scared half to death that I wouldn’t have enough product or I would be laughed at or My table would look terrible or I didn’t study for my test and show up to school naked… wait. no. That last one was from a movie. Or high school. Something.
While I’m stressed about the upcoming cluster of shows, I’m not as hard on myself. Part of this is because I have several shows under my belt, but another part of it is because I know I have to be. If I’m too hard on myself, I’m setting myself up for failure and lots of stress.
Something else that has helped me a great deal to relax, is the crafty people I’ve met that I can now call friends. I really realized this at my first ShowMe Etsy meeting. It was the first meeting with we newbies and they went around the group doing introductions. The all too familiar warm face, heart racing feeling of my youth came back. I HATE being the center of attention. Every insecurity from childhood comes racing back, and even though I knew I was staring into the faces of like-minded people and friends, I was still nervous.
Later in the evening, I did end up speaking up. I shared an unfortunate customer interaction I had at last year’s ICR. It was in that moment that I realized I did belong there. I earned my place in that group by loving what I do and taking pride in my craft. For the rest of the night, I was free to be myself.
I’m not saying that the same ol’ insecurities won’t resurface when I walk into ICR to set up, or when I go to my next SME meeting, but if I can remind myself of this post and those feelings, I think I’ll be ok.
Hi there! Boy, do I have lots to tell you, so let’s sit down and get right to it.
First of all, while it’s been busy busy busy in life, I’ve managed to get some things done for Etsy – including adding 14 super-duper awesome sandwich wraps to the shop! Go look! You know you want one (or two!) Did you know that sandwich wraps are a great alternative to plastic bags when it comes to packing lunch for you and the family? They’re re-usable, cute and provide you with a handy-dandy plate/placemat to eat your lunch.
Secondly, I’m excited to announce that I’ll be selling at two dates at the Tower Grove Farmers Market this year. I’ll be sharing a space with VillaDesign. Check out my schedule page for the exact dates and times. Please stop by and say hello!
Lastly (for this post) and probably the most awesome and most important – I’m proud to announce that I’ve been accepted to join ShowMe Etsy! I’m really looking forward to getting to know the other members and being as active as possible in the St. Louis craft community!
That’s all for now! I’m sure once I wake up some more (yeah, it’s almost 5 – I took a 2 hour nap with my daughter this afternoon – what’s it to ya?) I’ll be back with more to yammer on about.
Such a happy sight
For such a busy bee!
Fourteen sandwich wraps
For the world to see!
Fourteen sandwich wraps
All in a row
Fourteen sandwich wraps
Ready to go!
More work yet
For this busy bee
Photos must be taken
And uploaded to Etsy!
Tonight they’ll go up
While I sip coffee
Because caffeine fuels
This zenbot, baby!
Back in November and December of 2010, I participated in Show Me Etsy’s Artropy Shows. These two shows, were held in the evening and featured a small grouping of crafters at each show. While the November show was rather quiet as far as shoppers go, I did have one memorable exchange:
Woman pushing stroller: “You’re here!”
Me: “Yes! I am!”
WPS: “I received one of your kits for my baby shower! I LOVE IT!”
Me: “Wow! Thank you! I’m so happy you like it!”
If I wasn’t already hooked on crafting, selling, the St. Louis craft community, and the awesome people I had met along the way – in that moment, I was completely smitten. Creating a product and having it received well is one thing, but to get the feedback that someone (you don’t know) really, really, loves what you have made and uses it frequently? That’s an amazing feeling.
As 2010 came to a close, Husband and I started to reflect on the year and how it went for zenbot baby. He said that 2011 should be The Year of the Bot. 2010 was an experiment of sorts for me: Would I be able to make it as a crafter? Would I want to make it as a crafter? Was the craft community as awesome as I thought it was or was it all in my hopeful imagination? By the end of the year, I knew that the answer to all three of those questions was undoubtedly, YES.
So as 2011 has chugged on, I’ve put more focus on the business. Sewing without a show in site. (I’m a professional procrastinator by nature.) Uploading items to my Etsy shop. Organizing all of my craft supplies and parting with some that I just won’t ever use. Re-doing the website – Ok, so my hand was forced on that one a little, but I’m sure I would have done it anyhow. Adding my new little robot friend to my site, my Etsy, my twitter and my new business cards. All in all, I’ve kept zenbot in the front of my mind – much more than I ever had before. And it’s a good thing I have, too…
Because as of two weeks ago, I found out my Borders store is closing. If I had been on the fence at all about bringing zenbot front and center – this made my decision for me. I don’t want that to sound like I’m reluctant to make that decision, because that isn’t the case AT ALL, but it definitely made me instantly focused on what needed to be done. I’m trying to view the store closing as a time of opportunity rather than sadness. Most people hesitate to quit their jobs to do what they love, I’m just having mine taken away from me!
What sort of year will zenbot baby have in 2011? That is almost completely up to me – a fact that both thrills and scares me. No matter what the outcome is – it’s going to be an exciting ride. I hope you join me.